Device and method for treating oil containing bottom settlings from oil wells



Apnl 19, 1932. M. BOND, JR 1,855,042

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TREATING OIL CONTAINING BOTTOM SETTLINGS FROM OIL WELLS Filed Feb 27 1928 v E urm 2mm Ladder B021 Patented Apr. 19, 1932 a 1,855,042

UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE MARTIN LUTHER BOND, JR., OF .SAND SPRINGS, OKLAHOMA DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TREATING OIL CONTAINING BOTTOM SETTIJINGS FROM OIL WELLS Application filed February 27, 1928. Serial No. 257,323.

. This invention relates to a device and bustion formed in the lower section 5. A method for treating oil containing bottom stack 8 is positioned in the upper wall of the settlings from oil wells. housing 1 at the other end from the passage It is an object of this invention to provide 7 so that the products of combustion will have a device and method for treating oil containthe longest possible length to travel before ing bottom settlings from oil wells, wherein passing up the stack 8. provision is made for preventing overheating A pipe 9, which serves to conduct oil conof the oil and wherein the operation of the taining bottom settlings into the device, exdevice is continuous and requires little if any tends through one end ofthe housing 1 and 10 attention. connects with a coil of piping 10 positioned Other and further important objects of within the water drum 2. After circulating this invention will be apparent from the disthrough said coil 10 the oil containing botclosures in the specification and the accomtom settlings is discharged through an out panying drawings. v let pipe 11 passing through the other end of This invention (in a preferred form) is said housing 1. Y

illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter Both the inlet and discharge ends'9 and 11 more fully described. respectively are encased within protecting On the drawings: sheaths or sleeves 12 to prevent theoil from Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross-sectional becoming overheated where exposed directly view of a device embodying the principles to heat. 1

of my invention, with parts in elevation; The water drum 2 is provided with a sin Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view gle boiler tube 13 extending substantially the taken on line IIII of Figure 1; length of the drum 2 and connecting intosaid Figure 3 is a fragmentary detail View; and drum at its respective ends. A fuel pipe 14 Figure 4: is a sectional view taken on line enters said housing 1 through an opening 15 75 IV-IV of Figure 3. provided for the purpose, and connects with a My invention is especially adapted to the perforated burner pipe 16 positioned directly treatment of oil containing bottom settlings below and closely adjacent to the boiler tube r from scattered or isolated oil Wells where 13. Natural gas is preferably used as fuel the volume of such oil to be treated is so since it is readily obtained in oil well fields. so small as not to warrant continual attention A valve 17 is provided in the fuel line 14 for from an operator. My device, therefore, is controlling the flow of fuel. The valve 17 is practically automatic and continuous in its preferably automatically controlled by means operation, requiring little if any attention. of a thermostat device 18 communicating with By bottom settlings is meant a water in oil the interior of the water d rum 2 and govemulsion, the water phase containing varyerned by the temperatureof the'water thereing amounts of sodium, calcium and magnein. 7 sim chlorides. Water is admitted to the drum 2 through a The reference numeral 1 indicates an oven valve controlled pipe 19 connecting with a 40 housing suitably formed of masonry or the short verticalpipe 20 leading into said drum like and preferably considerably longer than 2. A relief valve 21 is provided in the branch its other dimensions. A tubular member, or line 22 from the pipe 20 to prevent accumuwater drum 2 is mounted within the chamber lation of pressure within the water drum 2. formed by said housing 1 in spaced relation Ordinarily thefwater in the drum 2 will. be 45 to the walls of said housing by means of a kept between 1&0 and 212 F, since at these horizontal baflie 3 dividing said chamber into temperatures the temperature of the oil will upper and lower sections 1 and 5 respecbe such that the action of the compound with tively. Said baflie 3 is continuous at one end which the oil is treated is most effective. The as at 6, but discontinuous at the other end corresponding temperatures of the oil will 59 to provide a passage 7 for products of comin general be between 65 and F. The 1 compound with which the oil is treated is in general one which will form in the emulsion an electrolyte with an excess of ions of a diiferent charge from that carried by the emulsion, so as to neutralize the charge on the emulsion and break down the same. The

breaking down of the emulsion by this metheration is necessary. V p If the Oll containing bottom settlings is to be treated to facilitate separation ofthe good oil from the water, the desired compound for treating the oil containing bottom settlings to break down, the water oil. emulsion is al-. Ways added beforethe oil is run intothe device. In order to insure thorough mixing of the treating compound and the oil containing bottom settlings, a criss-cross arrangement of rivets 23 is fermed at various points in the coil 10, such as just in advance of the ends.

of said coil as at 24. It will be understood, 7 however the separation process can be carried out with some degree 'ofsuccess without the addition of a treating compound.

By treatingoil containing bottom settlings in my device, a very satisfactory grade of'oil can be obtained where formerly such oil was merely burned as so much waste. One of the principal advantages of my device is that the bottom settlings are nowhere submitted to direct heat and there is therefore, no danger of the oil becoming overheated, or, as commonly expressed, burned. V

The single boiler tube 13 permits a constant circulation of the water in thedrum- 2, thus equalizing the temperatures at various points in the drum. The thermostatic control 18 on the fuel valve 17 prevents waste of fuel and overheating of the water" in the drum 2. Consequently there is very little replacement of water necessary due to this care ful control of the temperature. As the supply of water in oil fields is often limited, this is also an important factor. I

It will be understood that instead of treating oil containing bottom settlings as it comes from the wells, the bottom settlings may be varied through a wide range without depart- 2. A device for treating oil containing bottom settlings from oil wells, comprising an oven housing, a water drum therem, piping within said drum for the circulation of the oil containing bottom settlings -therethrough,

a boiler tube extending along the bottom of said water drum and communicating with the ends thereof, means beneath said tube for heating the same, a horizontal baflie dividing said oven into upper and lower sections communicating at one end and a stack at the other end of said oven, in such a manner that the upper portion of the water drum is exposed to the interior of the upper section of the oven, and the lower surface of said drum is exposed to the lower surface of the oven.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

MARTIN LUTHER BOND, JR. 

